u/quirkedupytboy2

Hello everyone! I have a personal question about my decision to retake the GRE or not. I know that this is a case by case issue, and reddit is prone to being annoyed by that, but I have no one to talk to about it off of reddit as both of my parents are high school graduates and none of my professors got their PhDs less than 15 years ago.

I am committing to a second (and final) cycle of American Politics PhD admissions this fall. I took the GRE last year without studying at all, which I know was an awful decision, but I had some stuff going on. I finished with a 161v/151q/4.5aw. I ended the 2026 cycle with 5 masters offers with anywhere from 0%-75% funding and 2 PhD waitlists that didn't budge.
Now I am contemplating retaking the GRE for this cycle. Here are my thoughts:

Out of the schools I intend to apply to, only 2 require GRE scores (one of which I was waitlisted for last year with my current score). I am genuinely wondering, based on my other info, if it is worth it to take it again to have great scores to send out, or if I should save the hundreds of dollars I'd spend retaking it and sending out scores. I understand that fit and interest and blah blah blah matter much more, but I am looking for real advice about if I should put in the time, effort, and money to raise my quant score to a 160.

Reasons I think it might be good to have a better score to send out:

- I went to a small school in South Carolina for undergrad (I am not wealthy and went fully on scholarship).

- I know that having a good score can make me stand out in a crowded field in what will likely be another tough year even at schools who don't require scores.

- Obviously at the schools that do require the scores, I am not looking too hot in the quantitative reasoning department.

Reasons I think it might not matter and I don't want to take it:

- I simply won't send any scores at all to schools that don't require it if I don't retake it.

- I have a 4.0 gpa in my poli sci classes and a 4.0 institutional.

- I have experience in both qualitative and quantitative research with professors.

- I won awards for my (history) undergrad thesis, a political science discipline award, and my department's "Dean's Award." (new developments after last years cycle)

- I believe my LORs and SOPs are strong, my professors agree. I even checked with my most brutally honest professor to make sure my nicer ones weren't doing me harm.

- Same as above for my writing sample.

- I am broke and the $250 price tag of the test plus the $40 every time I send the scores is absolutely brutal on top of application fees (some of which I can get waived for financial need, but not all.)

- I am not 100% sure I can raise my q score up to a 160, which is the lowest I would want it to be for it to be worth it to me to send it anywhere that doesn't require it.

How important do y'all think it is that I have better scores to send out, and how important are GRE scores anyway these days? What about based on my specific circumstances?

Thanks for reading all of my ramblings. I am exhausted and burnt out from working full time and studying so please excuse any repetition or nonsense. I'd appreciate any advice anyone is willing to give.

Hello! I know the general consensus is to just follow a program made by someone who knows a lot more than me, but sadly after about 2 years of lifting consistently using a pre-written program, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder that basically made it to where I can no longer squat, deadlift, or do barbell bench press. So, those restrictions are where I'm really running into issues and have no idea what I'm supposed to be doing instead. I don't feel sufficiently knowledgeable to make my own program and see actual progress, but I have to.

These are just my push and pull days, since I already know exactly what I can do on leg days and cardio days and I'm well aware it's not "optimal." I guess I'm just looking for some guidance to tell me if I'm on the right track since I can't use pre-written programs anymore, but I still technically use a "full gym,' so the dumbbell only or body weight programs are great options for me either. Thanks for any help.

Pull Day A

- lat pulldown 3x8-12

- seated cable row 3x8-12

- face pull 4x10-15

- rear delt fly machine 3x8-12

- preacher curl 3x8-12

- reverse bicep curl 3x8-12

- upright row 3x8-12

Push Day A

- seated dip 3x8-12

- incline db bench 3x8-13

- seated overhead press 3x8-12

- chest fly machine 3x8-12

- overhead cable tricep extension 3x8-12

- cable lateral raise 3x8-12

Pull Day B

- lat pulldown 3x8-12

- chest supported row machine

- face pull 4x10-15

- rear delt fly machine 3x8-12

- ez bar bicep curl 3x8-12

- hammer curl 3x8-12

- upright row 3x8-12

Push Day B

- incline db bench 3x8-13

- seated overhead press 3x8-12

- Chest press machine 3x8-12

- chest fly machine 3x8-12

- cable tricep pushdown 3x8-12

- overhead cable tricep extension 3x8-12

- cable lateral raise 3x8-12